NAB deputy chairman sent on ‘voluntary leave’ following corruption charges

A few days after he was booked for graft, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Wednesday sent Imtiaz Tajwar, deputy chairman of the body, on voluntary leave, a spokesperson at the bureau confirmed.

The deputy chairman will not be returning to his post till charges against him have been cleared, the spokesperson said.

Earlier this week, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered a case against the deputy chairman on corruption charges.

The first information report (FIR) against Imtiaz Tajwar was registered under Section 5(2)47 of the Prevention of Corruption Act for misuse of authority and corruption while he had the additional charge of the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).

Tajwar, who was serving as additional secretary with the ministry, was given the additional charge of Nadra after Tariq Malik resigned as its chairman. He remained Nadra’s acting chairman for over a year.

According to the statement, the ministry approved registration of the FIR and the FIA registered the case after completing an inquiry.

The FIA investigation revealed that Tajwar had allegedly paid visa fees of his children and purchased expensive gifts for his relatives and sacrificial animals from ‘ill-gotten’ money.